Electric switch



May .26, 1925.

1539,-152 R. B. BENJAMIN ELECTRIC SWITCHv Fileld Sept. 29 1919 2 Sheets-Shea?, 1

May 26, 1925.

R., B. BENJAMIN ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Sept. 29, 1.019 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 `1N Ez'vTo/e. -C BY. @M 1M ATTORNEYS Patented May 26, 1925.

issaisz UNITED STATES PATENT oFF-ics.

RENNEN B. BENJAMIN, or CHICAGO, ILLINoI-s,"ass1eiionTo BENJAMIN ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or CHICAGO, ILLINoIs, A CORPORATION or ILLINoIs.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application filed September 29, 1919. Serial No. 327,055.

Tor/NZ fui/7mm t may Concern.

le it known that l, RnUnnN B. BENJAMIN, a citizen oi" the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county ot Cook and State ot Illinois, 'have invented new andusetul lmi'irovements in Electric Switches, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description, reference being had tothe accompanying drawing, iorming apart of this specification. y l

My invention relates to electric switches, and. more particularly to pull snap switch sockets. y y Une ofthe objects of mv `invention is to provino such a device which will `be simple in Construction, cheap to manui'facturo and ldurable and eilicient in use. I

A iurther object of my invention is to provide an improved compact pull snap switch mechanism which can be conveniently located in a socket.,

Further objects will appear from the de tailed description to follow and from the appended claims;

In the drawings `in which one embodin'ientl oi my invention isfshown z. y

. Fig. 1 isa plan view ofa pull snap switch socket einbodying my invention, the cap be? ing removed;

Fig. 2 is a of Fig. 1;

section on the line 2-2 Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a part of the switch Vmechanism Fig. 10 is a detail perspective view oi the part of the switch shown in Fig. 9;l

Fig. 11 is a detail perspective view of the switch lever; n

Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the rotatable brushes; Y

Fig. 13 is a perspective viewpof the switch plate;

Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the switch frame; and

Fig. lois `a holding member.

VIn order to give a. gencralidea of the invention, 'it is here stated that the switch mechanism shown isof the ratchet snap switch type, that is to say,.the switch mech- )ers iective view of a srino b anism. is actuated byja pull member, which operates .the ratchet, so that a pull lontlie switch will throw the switch to closed'position, and the succeeding pull on the switch will throw the switch yto open position, the

switch n'iechanism being provided with areleasal'ile'detent or trip plate, which holds the switch `mechanism until a considerable spring .pressure has accumulated and then releases the switch mechanism.

.ln such switch mechanism two springs are usually provided,` one for` returning the ratchet after ithas been operated` by the pull chain, and one for accumulating energy i to cause the snap action of the switch.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the pull snap switch socket shown comprises an insulating base 20 for supporting the shell land center contacts 21 and 22, the

wiring terminals 23 and 24, for the shell and center contacts respectively, and the switch mechanism 25, which controls the circuit between the wiring terminal 211 and the center contact 22. The threaded shell Contact 21 'is electrically connected with the wiring Vtermi- .nal 23 (Fig. 5) by means oiv ascrew 26,

which extends through a flange on the threaded shell Contact, andv is threaded into the bracketportion of the wiring terminal 23, the screw 26 thus serving not only to electrically connect the wiring terminal and threaded shell Contact, but'also to hold these parts in position on the insulating base.

The switch mechanism 25 controls the circuit' between the other wiring terminal 24 and the center contact 22. This other wiring terminal 24. is electrically connected with one ot the stationary `spring Contact lingers 27 (Fig. 6) ot the switch, and the Vother stationary spring Contact finger 28 of the switch is electrically connected with the center Contact 22 bymeans of a. screw 29, `(as also shown in Fig. 6) this screw 29 serving not only to electrically connect the parts, but to hold them on the insulating base 20.

The stationary-or fixed contacts 27 and 28 vareengaged by a pair of contacts 30 which are formedintegrally with the rotary contact plateftlfl, theiixed contacts 27 and 28 being thus electrically interconnected when the switch is closed.

Coming now to describe the switch mechanism in detail, this comprises, in addition to the stationary spring contact fingers 27 and 23, and the rotatable contact member 30, an oscillatable switch lever 3l (Fig. ll) to which is secured a combined bearing, spring retaining, and ratchet member 32, (as also is shown'iu Fig. ll). `The switch mechanism comprises also a combined ratchet, spring securing and supporting, and eccentric member (FiglO) the ratchetportion of which cooperates with the ratchet portionof thefn'ien'iber 32. This in turn is provided with 'a spring 33 which returns the switch lever 31, and the spring supporting and retaining member 32. The latter. cooperates with the energy storing spring 35, which causes the snap' movement of the contact plate 30a. A trip plate 36 is controlledv by the eccentric portion of the member 34, and this trip plate controls the accumulation of tension in the spring 35, and controls the release of this spring to cause the snap movement of the contact plate 30a. A switch frame 37, (Fig. 14) supports the switch shaft 38 and is provided with a plurality of stop shoulders 3S), which cooperate with a stop lug 40 on the trip plate, to limit each snap movement of this trip plate (and of the contact plate 3W) to substantially 90 degrees.

The ratchet portion of the member 32 previously referred to comprises radially cX- "tending fingers 4l, the edges of which cooperate with the struck up ratchet teeth 42 on the member 34, some of these radially extending fingers being bent over the edges in the insulatingl disc 43 forming part of the switch lever 3l, to secure the member 32 to this disc 43. @ne end of the lever returning spring 33 is secured in an opening 44 in the member 32, the other end of trie spring being secured to a combined bearing and spring retaining member (Fig. l5). This member 45 maybe a sheet metal stamping, having a lug 4G struck up therefrom beneath which the end of the spring 33 is caught, andhaving a lugl 47 struck up therefrom for engagement with any one of a number of notches 48, formed in the standard 49 of the switch frame 37, whereby the tension of the coil torsion spring may be adjusted. The member 45 is provided with a notch 50 for engagement with a screw driver, whereby the member may be pushed in to disengage the lug 4T from the notch 48, and whereby the member 45 may be turned to the desired position, and the lugl 47 again engage with the desired one of the notches 48. The cup shaped member 5l of the member 45 forms a bearing for the end ofthe shaft 38.

A chain rail 52 is secured to the disc 43,

and a pull chain is secured to and supported by this chain rail 521.

The cup-shaped portion 54,0f the member 34 telescopes outside of the cup-shaped portion 55 of the member 32, the cup-shaped portion 55 thus forming a bearing for the member 34. The eccentric portion 56 of the member works in a circular opening 57 in the trip plate. As themember 34 is rotated, the eccentric portion 5C shifts the trip plate 3G eccentrically, and moves the stop lug` 4() out of engagement with one of the shoulders 39, and snap spring 35 then snaps the trip plate (together with the contact plate 3W) through degrees of movement, or until the lug 4() engages the following one of the shoulders 39. The contact plate 3()a is caused to rotate along with the trip plate 36 by the engagement of the lug 4() with a notch 53am the contact plate, this engagement permitting the eccentric movement of the trip plate with respectl to the contact plate but preventing relative rotation bctween the Contact plate and the trip plate and causing the contact plate to rotate with the trip plate.

@ne end of the snap spring is secured to the lug 40 of the trip plate, the other end of the snap spring being secured to any one of plurality of lugs 59 formed integral with the member 34. y

The switch frame 37 is secured in place on the insulating base 20 by means of a screw (3() (Figs. 2 and The spring Contact linger 27 is secured in place'on the insulating base by means of a screw 6l G).

The circuit has been outlined in connection with the description of the construction. Vilhcn the switch is in on position the cir# cuit is follows: Fromthe wiring terminal 24 to the springvcontact finger 27, and contact plate 30 to the spring contact finger 2S, and through the screw 29- to the center contact A22, thence to whatever translating de-v vice is inserted in the receptacle to the threaded shell contact 2l, and from the threaded shell contact 2l through the screw 2f'. to the wiring terminal 23;

The operation of the switch is as follows: Assuming that the switch 4is in on7 position shown and it is-desired to turn it off, the pull chain 53 is pulled down, to rotate the switch lever 3lthrough an angle of QO'degrees. Themovement of rthe switch lever 43 is limited to 9() degrees by engagement of the stop shoulders 62 and on the` insulating disc 43, with the abiltment portions 64 and 65 of the insulating base. During this movement of the switch lever the member 34 vis alsoV rotated through au angle of 90 degrees by the engagement of the ratchet portions 41 of the member 32, with the ratchet portions 42 of the member 34. This rotation ofthe 'member causes an eccentric movement of the trip plate 40 because of the eccentric portion 56 engaging the opening in the trip plate, and this uri gradually forces the lug 4:40 outwarduntil it finally trees itseltftrom the shoulder 39l ol' the switch `trame, when the snap spring 35 will cause this trip plate, together with the contact plate 30a, toV snap through ani angle oi degrees, and quiclrly breaks the circuit at two points betweenmthe, wiring `terminal 2st and the Vcenter-contact 22. Vvheii the pull chainV `53 is released, the

lever returning spring will Areturn the switch Alever 31, p the, member 3st, however, remaining stationary during this movement, the ratchet connections between the lever and Vmember 34 permitting the lever to more without moving the member 34g The i movement ot the trip plateand the bracketl degrees, and to cause the trip plate 3G to lbe moved eccentrically,to releaselit 'from .its engagement with the Vshoulders 39,to permitthe trip plate (together with thev contact plate 30a) to snap through an angle olfA 90 degrees, to quickly close the circuit at two points between the wiring terminal 2li and the center contact 22.

ll'aving thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A switch mechanism comprising a rotatably mounted contact member, a rotatable trip member arranged to rotate with said contact member, means including a coil torsion spring tor actuating said trip nieinber and contact member, an oscillatable ratchet member, and a tubular member within said spring having an eccentric portion on one end for moving said trip member to release it and permit it to be actuatedby said snap spring, said member having on the other end a ratchet portion struclr up therefrom tor cooperation with said oscillatable ratchet member.

2. A switch mechanism comprising a ro-` tatable contact member, a rotatable trip meniber, means 'for rotating said trip iiieinber with said contact member, means including a coil torsion spring tor actuating said trip member and contact member, a hollow spring drum surrounded by said coil torsion spring, said drum having a'ratchet portion, and a unitary member having a bearing portion fitting inside said spring drinn, and forming a bearing support theretor, and having a ratchet portionr for engagement with the ratchet portion of the spring drinn.

f A switch mechanism comprising a rotatable Contact member, a rotatable trip member means for rotating said trip nienn ber with said contact member, means in-A cluding a coil torsion spring tor actuating said trip member, a hollow spring drum supporting saidy coil ltorsion spring,` and a unitary memberhaving a bearing portion tittinginside said spring drum, said spring drinn having a ratchet portion, and said,

unitary member having arms extending radially therefrom and forming "ratchet members tor engagement with tl'iefratchet` i member on the spring drunn- Il.' A switch mechanism comprising a rotatable vContact meinber,`a rotatable trip member, means for rotatingsaid trip meinber `with said contact member, means in` cluding a coil torsion spring'tor yactuatingl said trip member, `a hollow spring drinn supporting said coil torsion spring, a unitary member having apbearing portion tittiiig inside said spring drum, said spring 'drum having a ratchet portion and said unitary member having arms extending `radially therefrom and forii'iing ratchetV members for engagement with the ratchet memberoitlie spring drum, and a switch lever to wliichsaid radially extending 4arms..

are secured.

5. A switch mechanism comprising a rotatable contact member, a krotatable trip meinbennieans for rotating said trip member with said contact member, means including a coil toi-sion spring for actuating said trip member and contact member, a spring drum surrounded by said ,coil torsion spring, ratchet mechanism for actuating said spring drum, a bearing member for said spring drum, a switch shaft supporting said contact member, trip member, spring drum and bearing member, a switch lever comprising an insulating disc, lying in a plane to which said shaft is substantially perpendicular,`

said disc having an opening through which said shaft extends, a coil torsion spring for returning said lever, surrounding said shaft and extending through said opening and secured to said bearing member, said bearing member being secured to said disc.

6. A switch mechanism comprising a rotatable contact member, .a rotatable tripl member, means for rotating said trip inember with said contact member, means including a snap spring for actuating said tri member and contact member, an oscillatable switch lever, a coil torsion spring for returning said switch lever, said returning spring, said oscillatable switch lever and said contact member being substantially coaxial, said switch lever comprising a disc lying in aplane to which the axis olf said switch lever is substantially perperdicular, said disc having an axial opening therein, through which said returning spring extends, and a cup-shaped member secured to said disc and housing said spring'.

7. A switch 'mechanism comprising a roiso tatable contact member, aY-rotatable trip member, means for rotating sai-d trip member with said contact member, means including a snap spring for actuating said trip member and said contact member, an-oscillatable switch lever, a coil torsion spring for returning said switch lever, said returning spring, said oscillatable switch lever and said contact member being substai'itially coaxial, said switch lever comprising a. disc lying in a plane to which the axis of said switch lever is substantially perpendicular, said disc having an axial opening therein through which said returning spring extends and a cupshaped member secured to Y said disc Vand housing said spring, said cup-shaped member having ratchet teeth extending therefrom 'for cooperation with a ratchet member to which the snap spring is secured.

S. A switch mechanism comprising a'rotatable contact member, a rotatable trip member, means 'for rotating said trip member with said contact member, means including a snap spring for actuating said trip member and contact membei, an oscillatable switch lever', a returning spring for returning said oscillatable switch lever, two telescoping sleeve members, 'the outer one of said sleeve members having the snap spring vsleeved upon and secured t-o it, the inner sleeve member supporting the switch lever and having the returning spring secured to it, said sleeve members having linterengaging ratchet teeth, the inner Vot' said sleeve members -a'lso forming a housing for the re` turning spring.

9. A switch mechanism comprising a rotatable contact brush member, a rotatable trip member, means for rotating said trip member with said 'Contact member, means includ-ing a sna-p spring for actu-ating said trip member and contact member, an oscilllatable switch lever, a returning spring for returning said oscillatable switch lever, and two telescopi/ng sleeve members, vone of said sleeve members having the snap spring secured to it, the other being secured tothe switch lever and l'iaving the returning spring secured to it, said sleeve members having interengaging ratchet teeth, said first named sleeve member forming a housing .for the returning spring, and the other sleeve member having' an feccenftric portion for 'controlling the Atripping of the tr'ip member.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

REUBEN B. BENJAMIN. 

